Global Members Committee (GMC)

The main purposes of the Global Members Committee (GMC) are to consider and recommend regional business plans developed by World Regional Boards for approval by RICS Board as part of the overall business plan, champion the delivery, and ensure the quality and consistency, of member services, experience, engagement and value and act as a conduit between RICS members, World Regional Boards and RICS Board.

The Committee reports to the RICS Board and takes oversight of the five World Regional Boards (UK & Ireland, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa) who report into the Committee.

Chair of Global Members Committee (GMC)

Douglas McCormick FRICS

Chair of Membership Services Committee

Douglas is the CEO of Pegasus Group, a multidisciplinary design, planning and development consultancy. He is a Fellow of RICS, RICS Board Member and a Fellow and Non-Executive Director of the Institute of Collaborative Working. Douglas brings a wealth of experience in construction and infrastructure sectors. His leadership roles in global consultancies and commitment to fostering opportunities for the next generation of leaders as a previous Commissioner for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, highlight his dedication to the industry's growth.

Global Members Committee (GMC) Membership

Susanne Eikermann-Riepe FRICS

Susanne Eickermann-Riepe FRICS is Chair of the European World Regional of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS (www.rics.org) and member of the World Regional Board. She also leads the ICG Institute (www.icg-institut.de) in Germany. She has been working in the real estate industry for over 30 years, including 18 years as a partner at PwC WP GmbH. She led PwC Real Estate Germany until June 2020 (www.pwc.de/real-estate) and was a member of the EMEA and Global Real Estate Leadership Board. Among other things, she is active as Independent supervisory and advisory board member and supports a number of sustainability committees in the real estate sector. For example she is a NED at CTP (www.ctp.eu), a member of the ZIA ESG Council (www.zia-deutschland.de), as Chairwoman of the DGNB Real Estate Committee (www.dgnb.de) and as a member of the Sustainability Committee at the Federal Real Estate Company (www.big.at) in Austria. Nationally and internationally, she is committed to innovation and PropTechs in various organizations.

Eric Cheah

Mr. Cheah is Head of Investment Management Asia Pacific at Union Investment Real Estate GmbH, managing acquisition and sales activities for the German real estate fund management company. He has more than 30 years' experience in real estate, which he gained within the region and internationally across a range of different functions for companies including Pacific Star Group, The Ascott Group, Hudson Conway and Fletcher Constructions. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Building Construction Management. Mr. Cheah is also the Chair of RICS’ Asia Pacific World Regional Board, MRICS, an ANREV member, a ULI member, a member of ULI Singapore Integrated Development Council, and a member of the ULI APAC Capital Markets Council.

Chris Smith MRICS

Chris Smith is Senior Director at CBRE and currently engaged by a global technology account as Global Commercial Lead. A proud RICS Member since 2010, Chris joined the Americas World Regional Board in 2019 as the construction-sector lead. In January 2023 Chris stepped into the role of Chair of the Americas World Regional Board, representing the ~3,200 RICS members and candidates in the Americas (across US, Canada and the Caribbean). Before joining CBRE in 2015, Chris was on secondment from cost consultant Turner & Townsend to the Goldman Sachs corporate real estate division based in New York. In this role, Chris led a team responsible for capital planning, procurement and cost control for projects across the Americas. In addition to commercial real estate, Chris has experience leading cost management teams in various sectors across the globe, notably the 2012 London Olympic Games, a $3BN diamond mine for Rio Tinto and a $500M, 180-km railway project for Brookfield Rail – the latter two projects both in Western Australia. Chris is currently based in Tampa, FL, having previously lived in Phoenix, New York, Toronto, Australia and the UK.

Haroon Niazi FRICS

Haroon is a chartered quantity surveyor with more than 18 years of experience in the construction industry. as part of his current role at HKA he leads the Construction Claims and Expert Service Line across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region comprising a team of over 200 consultants. He is dual qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and as a barrister; therefore, well placed to provide advice and opinion in relation to the most complex of construction disputes. He has been appointed as a quantum expert and provided expert testimony in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Haroon has experience in all forms of dispute resolution and excellent knowledge of the JCT, NEC, FIDIC and MPW contracts in Kuwait; the Saudi Public Works Contract; and the Saudi Aramco standard form contracts, as well as various ad hoc contracts. Haroon specialises in the quantification of construction cost claims and he supports clients across various market sectors, from power, oil and gas to major buildings and infrastructure projects. Haroon holds a masters in both law and quantity surveying. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Haroon was awarded HKA’s 2014 Worldwide Consultant of the year award for his achievements and has been named one of the top 100 most influential construction leaders in the Middle East by Construction Week. Haroon is the Chair for the World Regional Board, Middle East and Africa of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Simon Prichard

Simon was appointed to the Gerald Eve Executive Board in 2007 as Strategy Partner and was appointed Senior Partner in 2015. For most of his career he has worked in the City, initially with Cable & Wireless Plc and more recently with Wright Oliphant - a subsidiary of Hambros Bank. He is a Chartered Surveyor and has provided Real Estate advice to major corporates including JP Morgan, Carnival PLC, DMGT and Whitbread, as well as major landowners including the Grosvenor Estate, Land Securities and Standard Life. He sits on the academic board of the University College of Estate Management and is a prominent figure within the property industry.